New addition to Hog's Breath

Additional championship to join forces with leading Australian regatta

Airlie Beach's Hogs Breath Race Week has been awarded the hosting of the 13th National Trailerable Yacht and Sportsboat Championships. This event will be held in conjunction with the existing race week program of one-design keelboats, IRC, PHS and Cruising divisions, scheduled for 13-19 August.

Regatta Director, Andrew Palfrey said from Sydney: "We have been discussing ways of encouraging more involvement from the trailerable yacht sector, so this is a very timely opportunity. We see the event growing towards class racing, so the Trailerable and Sportsboat people are a perfect fit".

Ray Jones, the President of the Trailerable Yacht Association of NSW and ACT (and current National champion) commented: "some of our members have been regular competitors at Airlie Beach, so when we were discussing locations for the 2004 Nationals, Hog's Breath was a popular nomination. Many of our Queensland members will be given the opportunity to compete at their first nationals".

The National Trailerable Yacht and Sportsboat Championships have a history going back to 1992, where the first national championships saw a total of 92 boats attend at Lake Macquarie. Since then, the Trailerable nationals have been held annually where fleets of up to 70 boats have competed.

In the meantime, entries continue to be received for the event in various divisions. Matt Allen's successful Farr 52 Ichi Ban is coming back and the Sydney 38 Pan Pacific's are generating interest. Sponsorship negotiations are progressing well with Tooheys New recently agreeing to continue their partnership with the event.

Known as the Tropical Shirt Regatta, Hog's Breath Race Week is gearing up for more fun in the sun, as well as a high standard of regatta management. The newly completed land based facilities at Abel Point Marina will compliment the modern marina extensions. Competitors will be able to relax after racing in the competitor's marquee while enjoying the renowned yachtie band, The Wolverines. Other shore-based activities will include radio controlled mini regattas using Blowfly One Metre yachts and Mucka's Coconut Lotto will be back again after a stunning debut at Hog's 2003.